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ZeroTier VS OpenVPN

Compare ZeroTier VS OpenVPN and see what are their differences

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Contents:
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  2. » Videos
  3. » Reviews
  4. » Alternatives

ZeroTier logo ZeroTier

Extremely simple P2P Encrypted VPN

OpenVPN logo OpenVPN

OpenVPN - The Open Source VPN
  • ZeroTier Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-29
  • OpenVPN Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-19

ZeroTier features and specs

  • Cross-Platform Support
    ZeroTier is available on multiple platforms including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS, enabling connectivity across devices with different operating systems.
  • Ease of Use
    Setting up a ZeroTier network is relatively simple, often requiring just a few clicks to get devices connected securely.
  • High Performance
    ZeroTier offers low latency and high throughput, making it suitable for a variety of applications including gaming, file sharing, and real-time communications.
  • Security
    ZeroTier provides end-to-end encryption, ensuring that data transmitted over the network is secure from interception and unauthorized access.
  • Scalability
    The service scales well from small home networks to large enterprise environments, allowing for flexible network size and complexity.
  • Cost-Effective
    ZeroTier offers a free tier with robust features along with affordable paid plans, making it accessible for personal use and small to medium-sized businesses.

Possible disadvantages of ZeroTier

  • Complexity for Advanced Configurations
    While basic setup is straightforward, advanced configurations may require more technical expertise and understanding of networking principles.
  • Dependency on Cloud Service
    ZeroTier's functionality partially relies on its cloud service components, which could be a potential point of failure or concern for those requiring full on-premises solutions.
  • Usage Limits on Free Tier
    The free tier has limitations on the number of nodes and network configurations, which may not be suitable for larger networks or advanced use cases.
  • Potential Privacy Concerns
    As with any cloud-based service, there could be concerns regarding data privacy and control, despite ZeroTier's use of end-to-end encryption.
  • Limited Official Support for Free Users
    Users on the free plan have limited access to official support, which could be an issue if they encounter complex problems or need timely assistance.

OpenVPN features and specs

  • Security
    OpenVPN uses robust encryption standards like AES-256, providing a high level of security for data transmission.
  • Open Source
    Being open-source, OpenVPN allows users to verify its code for vulnerabilities, ensuring transparency and reliability.
  • Flexibility
    OpenVPN can run on various platforms, including Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android, offering extensive compatibility.
  • Customizability
    Users can configure OpenVPN according to their specific needs, allowing advanced network setups and policies.
  • Performance
    OpenVPN offers strong performance with efficient handling of large data transmissions and support for high and stable speeds.
  • Community Support
    A large and active community provides ample resources, including tutorials, forums, and user support.
  • Cost
    As a free and open-source solution, OpenVPN significantly reduces the cost compared to many commercial VPN offerings.

Possible disadvantages of OpenVPN

  • Complex Setup
    Setting up OpenVPN can be complex and may require technical expertise, particularly for advanced configurations.
  • Resource Intensive
    OpenVPN can be resource-intensive compared to some other VPN protocols, potentially impacting the performance of older or lower-spec hardware.
  • Client Software
    The official OpenVPN client software has a less user-friendly interface compared to some commercial VPNs, possibly deterring less tech-savvy users.
  • Mobile Experience
    Although OpenVPN supports mobile devices, the user experience on mobile can be less streamlined compared to desktop environments.
  • Initial Learning Curve
    New users may find the initial learning curve steep due to the multitude of configuration options and the need for understanding networking concepts.
  • Support
    While community support is strong, there may not be as much immediate or personalized support as found with some commercial VPN services.

ZeroTier videos

+ Add

ZeroTier VS VPN and A Look At The Data Stream With Wireshark

More videos:

  • Review - Introducing the ZeroTier Edge
  • Review - Talking about ZeroTier VPN!

OpenVPN videos

+ Add

OpenVPN Overview

More videos:

  • Tutorial - How to setup OpenVPN on Windows | macOS | Android | iOS - Smart DNS Proxy

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to ZeroTier and OpenVPN)

ZeroTier

OpenVPN

VPN
28 28%
VPN
72% 72
Security & Privacy
25 25%
Security & Privacy
75% 75
Cloud VPN
25 25%
Cloud VPN
75% 75
Cloud Computing
100 100%
Cloud Computing
0% 0

User comments

Share your experience with using ZeroTier and OpenVPN. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare ZeroTier and OpenVPN

ZeroTier Reviews

Top Hamachi Alternatives for Virtual LAN Gaming in 2023
ZeroTier has fewer restrictions on this app. Also, it supports almost all operating systems. It has its own Android and iOS mobile applications. It not just offers VPN services but also provides SDN. The community of ZeroTier is huge; if you ever get stuck with your app or the LAN party, a community will always be able to help you out.
Source: www.sysprobs.com
Best Free Hamachi Alternatives For You To Try in 2022
ZeroTier is the close second of the hamachi alternatives. The best trait of the tool is that instead of Windows, you can use ZeroTier on Mac, iOS, Android, and Linux devices. Single software to meet all your VPN needs on different devices and platforms. The tool is quite smart and is not at all like the traditional VPN tools.
Source: www.techpout.com
15 Best Hamachi Alternatives for Gaming in Virtual LAN (Latest 2021)
ZeroTier creates a safe & secure network between computers, cloud, and mobile devices through its P2P functionality.
Source: growtechy.com
The 10 Best Open Source VPN Apps
According to the makers themselves, ZeroTier is a network hypervisor that allows users to create a virtual network. Accordingly, referring to ZeroTier as simply a VPN client would be an injustice to it. Users who are just looking for a VPN can also opt for this open-source software. Using this software, you won’t have to worry about different websites accessing your location...
Source: www.fosslinux.com
11 Best Hamachi Alternatives for Virtual LAN Gaming
ZeroTier also supports almost all operating systems and also has its own Android and iOS mobile applications. It not just offers VPN services but also provides SDN. ZeroTier has a huge community and you won’t have to worry if you get into any trouble while setting up your LAN party. It offers low ping and even though it’s a VPN client it’s useful to setup Virtual LAN parties.
Source: www.geekdashboard.com

OpenVPN Reviews

The top 10 alternatives to OpenVPN
OpenVPN is an open-source software application that provides virtual private network (VPN) services. It allows the creation of secure network connections over the internet, using a custom security protocol that utilizes SSL/TLS for key exchange. OpenVPN is capable of traversing network address translators (NATs) and firewalls, providing users with the ability to securely...
Source: www.twingate.com
Best Top 20 OpenVPN Alternatives (Pros and Cons)
OpenVPN is a virtual private network system used to create trusted end-to-end connection configuration and remote access services. As with any other VPN service, OpenVPN also has its own drawbacks. For instance, its inability to bypass particular proxy servers and complexities in user journeys lead to less user-friendliness. Therefore, we will be discussing a few...
Source: cloudinfrastructureservices.co.uk
6 Types of VPN Protocols, Compared: Which is the Best to Use?
In most cases, OpenVPN or WireGuard will be your best bet. PPTP is a protocol we don’t recommend using because of its relatively low-level encryption. However, you could try this protocol when privacy and security are not your highest priorities, such as for unblocking streams. If OpenVPN is not supported or does not work well for whatever reason, you could consider using...
Source: vpnoverview.com
OpenVPN vs WireGuard: Which protocol is best?
OpenVPN was first released in May 2001. Although the PPTP protocol had been around for five years already at this point, OpenVPN became popular because it offered stronger encryption without too much of a drop in speed. Over the years, vulnerabilities were patched and new clients were developed that brought OpenVPN support to a greater range of devices. This previously...
Source: www.comparitech.com
9 Best NordVPN Alternatives You Must Use In 2022
The next alternative to NordVPN on our list is OpenVPN. OpenVPN allows you to establish a point-to-point secure connection between your device and the Internet. It is a flexible VPN solution that can cater to business needs as well.
Source: wethegeek.com

Social recommendations and mentions

OpenVPN might be a bit more popular than ZeroTier. We know about 40 links to it since March 2021 and only 35 links to ZeroTier. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

ZeroTier mentions (35)

  • Setup a Local Wifi Lan
    If you just want to connect between your devices, you don't need any hardware. Just install zerotier on them. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Father and Son family time not working :( LAN or Portforwarding hosting server on same network not working
    Hi there, I've tried hosting a server on my computer and then both my Dad and I try to play together. However, it's only worked once or twice when I hosted from playtogether.gg or when it worked once with the zerotier.com method. I've portforwarded, I've made sure both our firewalls were allowing 10578, nothing seems to work. We both have Skyrim Together fully installed on our SSE, and we just want it to work :(... Source: over 2 years ago
  • I'm speechless for services like Tailscale, what's the downside?
    I lived under a rock, and only today I found a service called Tailscale.com . I think other provider offers the same thing, one alternative seems to be zerotier.com. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Lab simulators
    I set up EVE-ng on a google cloud VM. Then immediately the question was how do I get access to the lab equip? I found this video explaining how to set up a virtual nic on the eve-ng VM, connect that to a cloud network in eve-ng, then connect mgmt interfaces from your devices to that. Then he used zerotier.com to setup a quick ssl vpn. Now I can turn off all inbound access to the VM and access all my lab... Source: over 2 years ago
  • Cheap and cheerful router with block list?
    I prefer Routerboard with arm cpu, because it support running ZeroTier and docker containers. Source: almost 3 years ago
View more

OpenVPN mentions (40)

  • Ask HN: Who is hiring? (October 2023)
    OpenVPN is hiring! https://openvpn.net/ C++ Developer in the United States. Full-time| Fully remote| Flexible work schedules Link to look at vacancy details and apply:. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Are there any work arounds for the Netflix new "household" system?
    How you connect to your modem will depend on the device you are using, but for windows laptops as an example you download the OpenVPN program and input your modem details there, much like you would any other vpn service. I think there would be some guides on youtube. https://openvpn.net/. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Can i use PFSense to control incoming user connections (without a vpn?)
    I just started playing with CloudConnexa for remotely managing my second pFSense. Really nice and is free for up to 3 concurrent users. https://openvpn.net. Can also self-host OpenVPN access server with a free 2 concurrent license. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Is the 7spotlight Markle family interview airing now? Is anyone watching and can provide comment? 👀📺
    If anyone is being blocked check out free OpenVPN. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Is it possible for a sysadmin to block only some packets from a VPN connection ?
    I too haven't used the client-nat directive in some years (I currently implement 1:1 NAT with pfsense to access my network because I'm too lazy to change the networks subnet from the default) so I decided to retest and it does appear that OpenVPN Connect clients do not properly support the client-nat directive but the traditional OpenVPN server/clients still do. I've just tested this on OpenVPN 2.6.3 Server,... Source: about 2 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing ZeroTier and OpenVPN, you can also consider the following products

Hamachi - Hamachi is a VPN service scaled to the unique needs of business owners.

ProtonVPN - ProtonVPN is a security focused FREE VPN service, developed by CERN and MIT scientists. Use the web anonymously, unblock websites & encrypt your connection.

TailScale - Private networks made easy Connect all your devices using WireGuard, without the hassle. Tailscale makes it as easy as installing an app and signing in.

Hotspot Shield - Hotspot Shield is a software application developed by AnchorFree, Inc.

WireGuard - Fast, Modern, Secure VPN Tunnel

Psiphon - Psiphon is circumvention software for Windows and Mobile platforms that provides uncensored access to Internet content. Read more about Psiphon.

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